Old Mill Pond Dam dam
Old Mill Pond Dam
Old Mill Pond Dam, located in Hampton, New Hampshire, is a local government-owned structure built in 1935 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, standing at 11 feet tall and 230 feet long, impounds Nilus Brook and has a storage capacity of 47 acre-feet. Despite its small size, the dam plays a significant role in providing recreational opportunities for the community and contributes to the overall water resource management in the area.
With a poor condition assessment and a significant hazard potential, Old Mill Pond Dam faces challenges that need to be addressed to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam is regulated by the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services Dam Bureau, which conducts regular inspections and enforcement actions. The dam's spillway, classified as uncontrolled with a width of 36 feet, poses a potential risk in case of high water levels and requires attention to prevent any incidents.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure across the country, the management and maintenance of dams like Old Mill Pond Dam become crucial to mitigate risks and ensure public safety. With proper risk assessment and management measures, coupled with regular inspections and enforcement, this dam can continue to provide recreational benefits while safeguarding the surrounding area from potential hazards.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Old Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Winnicut River At Greenland | 18 cfs | → |
| Exeter River At Haigh Road | 51 cfs | → |
| Lamprey River Near Newmarket | 164 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 12 cfs | → |
| Oyster River Near Durham | 14 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River Near Ipswich | 75 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Old Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Hampton Falls River Boat Launch
- Squamscott River Boat Launch
- Odiorne Point Boat Launch
- Little Harbor Loop Trail Portsmouth
- Nancy Street 8, Plum Island
Campgrounds
- Tidewater Campground
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Old Stage Campground
- Remote Campsite
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Saddleback Campground
Paddle runs
Track Old Mill Pond Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Old Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Old Mill Pond Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Old Mill Pond Dam.